![marlinsballpark-120130.standard[1]](http://nbchardballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/marlinsballpark-120130-standard1.jpg?w=136&h=121&crop=1 "marlinsballpark-120130.standard[1]")
Getty Images Philadelphia spending $50 million on Jonathan Papelbon stands out in what has otherwise been a buyer’s market for relief pitching, but the Phillies got into the bargain-hunting action by signing Chad Qualls to a one-year, $1.15 million deal.
Jose Contreras‘ health status is uncertain coming off elbow surgery, so Qualls can slide into his right-handed setup role in front of Papelbon and southpaw setup man Antonio Bastardo.
Qualls inked a one-year, $2.55 million deal with the Padres last offseason and threw 74 innings with a 3.51 ERA and 43/20 K/BB ratio. Because he called pitcher-friendly Petco Park home that ERA isn’t as impressive as it appears and Qualls’ strikeout rate was the worst of his career at age 32, but aside from a fluky 2010 season his annual ERAs are 3.55, 3.28, 3.76, 3.05, 2.81, 3.63, and 3.51 dating back to 2004.
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- illcomm - Jan 31, 2012 at 11:49 AM
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Since 2005 he has lifted the most relief innings and also has about a 55% GB ratio.
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- Jonny 5 - Jan 31, 2012 at 11:50 AM
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Ehh…
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- spudchukar - Jan 31, 2012 at 11:54 AM
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He might set the record for most homers allowed by a reliever in one season. The guy is a hanging slider machine, and in CBP he has a shot at the record.
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- icanspeel - Jan 31, 2012 at 12:18 PM
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He must have impressed the Phillies last year when he gave up 3 home runs to them in 1 inning back in July
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- spudchukar - Jan 31, 2012 at 11:54 AM
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He might set the record for most homers allowed by a reliever in one season. The guy is a hanging slider machine, and in CBP he has a shot at the record.
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- bleed4philly - Jan 31, 2012 at 12:22 PM
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Good situational right-hander. I like the move, adds depth.
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- greymares - Jan 31, 2012 at 12:32 PM
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there’s a lot of bodies in that pen, gonna be some notable cuts.
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- Jonny 5 - Jan 31, 2012 at 1:22 PM
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I fear he’ll resemble Danys Baez too much.
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- snowbirdgothic - Jan 31, 2012 at 1:27 PM
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He’s half the pitcher Baez is. Literally.
